DEAR ABBY: In a recent column, you published a letter from a woman whose sister died at 57. Wayne, her husband of more than 30 years, subsequently remarried.
She said she had recently introduced them as her brother-in-law and his wife, Jo Ann. Twice Jo Ann corrected her publicly, saying, "He WAS your brother-in-law," stressing the "was."
She said that in her opinion Wayne would always be her brother-in-law.
Abby, according to the IRS, the following relationships that are established by marriage are not ended by death or divorce:
"Your child, grandchild, great-grandchild (a legally adopted child is considered your child).
"Your stepchild.
"Your brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, stepbrother or stepsister.
"Your parent, grandparent, or other direct ancestor, but not foster parent.
"Your stepfather or stepmother, your uncle or aunt, a niece or nephew, your father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law or brother-in-law." -- OSCAR G. PRICE JR., A GRATEFUL ENROLLED AGENT FAN, BIRMINGHAM, ALA.
DEAR MR. PRICE: Thank you for pointing this out. Who says tax men don't have a heart?